Embodied Trauma: Understanding the Relationship Between Psychological Stress and Physical Health Symptoms among Middle Eastern Migrant Women in Post-Pandemic London

Abstract

Ozlem Isik*

Migration is more than just moving to a new place; it often comes with psychological stress that can manifest physically in the body. For many Middle Eastern migrant women in London after the COVID-19 pandemic, stress turned into embodied trauma, where emotional pain appeared as physical symptoms such as headaches, tiredness, stomach problems and difficulty sleeping [1,2]. Past trauma and the difficulties of starting a new life already create stress for migrant women. But during COVID-19, isolation, fear of illness and problems accessing services made everything worse. Because of this, their mental and physical health became more fragile, and more people experienced emotional and physical problems [3]. Migrants may express distress through physical symptoms rather than emotional ones because of cultural, language, or service-access barriers [2]. For women, gender- specific roles, such as caregiving, household responsibilities, and economic insecurity, add further stress and make embodied trauma more likely. In London’s post-pandemic context, most women immigrants faced increased risk of social isolation, disrupted ESOL (English for the Speakers of Other Languages) or community support classes, and fear of infection or financial loss, all contributing to somatic symptoms such as headaches, sleep disturbance, fatigue and gastrointestinal problems. Using literature on migrant mental health, somatisation and embodied trauma, this paper discusses how psychological stress and physical health are connected for Middle Eastern migrant women in London. The concept of embodied trauma helps to frame how emotional wounds become bodily ones, and why health services must recognise both the mind and body, particularly in-migrant women’s care. The paper argues for trauma-informed, culturally and gender-sensitive health and integration support that addresses physical health symptoms as signals of deeper emotional distress. Recognising the body’s role in migration trauma can lead to better outcomes for mental and physical well-being among migrant women in post-pandemic London.

HTML PDF